Additionally, students share
a wide range of responsibilities as members of the FHMS learning
community. Among these are included the
responsibility to

·demonstrate
respect for fellow students, school facilities, faculty, and staff at FHMS

·respect lunch privileges

·report issues
violations of the Student Code of Conduct to staff members

NONDISCRIMINATION
POLICY

Discrimination
towards students or staff on the basis of race, nationality, origin, gender,
sexual preference, or handicapping condition is not tolerated on the premises
of Federal Hocking. The FHMS learning
community values diversity in all its forms and believes in respecting the
rights of individuals. If there are any
issues regarding discrimination, please do not hesitate to speak to the
principal or other staff members.

General
Information about FHMS

School Information

Phone Number: (740) 662-6691

Fax Number: (740) 662-5065

Website: www.fedhock.com

Facebook Page:www.facebook.com/FederalHockingLocalSchools

"No School" Announcements

Some
days throughout the year due to the weather school is canceled. This decision is usually made prior to 6:00
a.m. and will be announced both on the school phone system and over the
following local TV/Radio stations:

·WATH/WXTQ radio -
970 AM/105.5 FM

·WAIS/WSEO radio-
107.7/105.0 FM

·WXIL

·WSAZ Channel 3 -
TV

·WTAP Channel 15 -
TV

We will also send phone
announcements on school closings, so make sure we have your correct phone
number.

BUS TRANSPORTATION

Bus
transportation is provided as assistance to our students. Questions regarding bus transportation may be
directed to the district transportation supervisor by calling 662-6691 ext.
115. By Ohio law, all students are to
be assigned seats and are required to sit in those seats. Seat assignment is left to the discretion of
the driver, transportation supervisor, or the building administrator.

Misbehavior on
the bus may result in the loss of bus riding privileges. A student may have bus transportation
privileges suspended and the length of suspension will be determined by the
seriousness of the misconduct, the disciplinary record of the student, and any
factors deemed relevant by the administration.
Immediate removal from the bus may occur if a pupil’s presence poses a
danger to persons or property or a threat to the safe operation of the bus.
Misbehavior on the bus may also result in any penalties and procedures
described in the Student Code of Conduct.

Guidance Office

Mrs.
Amy Buchman is the guidance counselor and will be eager to help you. Students must have a pass from a teacher
before going to see Mrs. Buchman.

Grade Promotion

Being
promoted from grade to grade depends upon your academic success at each grade
level and is determined by the school administration.

If
you have been absent due to an excused absence, you may receive an
"I" (incomplete). It is your
responsibility to see your teacher to make up the work you missed. If you do not make up the work within two
weeks of the end of the grading period, you will receive an "F". Students may not make up work missed due to
unexcused absences or if they have been suspended from school. Once grades are entered on the report card
they may not be changed for any reason other than teacher error in computing
grades (with the exception of grades of “I”).
Make up work may be figured in for final grades, but cannot result in
the changing of a grade entered for the previous grading period.

Grades come out every six weeks. That way, you get plenty of feedback on how
well you are doing in all your classes.
There are also midterms, which come out halfway through each six-week
grading period to let you know how you are doing in each of your classes.

Absences,
Attendance, Late Arrival, Early Dismissal

One of the best ways to do well
in school is to make sure you are here. There are several acceptable reasons
for an excused absence, they include the following:

1. Illness with a parents’ note or a doctor’s note.

2. Death of a relative.

3. Religious observances.

4. Legal business including court appearances.

5. Family activities and trips that have received prior
approval by the principal for absences.

6. An emergency which in the judgment of the principal
is a sufficient cause for an absence from school.

If you are going to be absent
from school you need to have your parent/guardian call the school to notify us
of your absence. When you return to
school you must bring a note from your parent or guardian explaining your
absence even if the absence is unexcused.
You have three days to bring in a note or the absence will be considered
unexcused. The note is important because
it provides a written documentation that your parent is aware of your absence.

If you are absent, the first five parent note absences
are marked excused at the discretion of the principal. Thereafter absences may be marked unexcused
other than medical/legal absences. Make
up work is not permitted when student are unexcused. Students who miss six or more days in a
semester may be required to have a parent meeting with the county truant
officer. Students missing more than 10
days in any one semester will not be given any academic credit for that
semester. Doctors, dentists, legal activities,
and field trips do not count against your 10 day limit per semester.
Additionally, students who have five consecutive unexcused absences, 7
unexcused absences in one month, or twelve unexcused absences per year may go
to juvenile court.

If you arrive late to school you must first report to
the attendance office to check in.
Remember if you drive to school a car trouble is not excused. If you are repeatedly late to school you will
receive consequences as outlined in the Code of Conduct. If you need to leave school early, you must
bring a note to the office at the beginning of the day for that dismissal to be
approved. Acceptable reasons include
doctor and other appointments and business that cannot be conducted after
school. Students may not dismiss
themselves from school. You must report to the office to check out if you are
on early dismissal.

Medication

If
it is necessary that you take medication during the school day, you need to
bring the medicine, in its original container, along with a note from the
doctor stating the proper dosage and times of administration to the school
secretary. You will be dismissed at the
proper time to take your medication. At the end of the year you must collect
the unused portion of your medication or it will be thrown away. This include all over the counter
medications.

Footwear and Mobility

Only
gym shoes are allowed on the gym floors at all times. Further, students may not wear shoes with
wheels and remember, skateboards are not allowed at school.

Dress Code

Students
at FHMS should dress in a respectful way.
Final judgment on all dress code items rests with the staff and
administration. Refusal to comply with
the dress code will result in a change of clothes being given to the student or
the student will be removed from school for the day.

No hats without a permit.

Sunglasses are not to be worn indoors.

If wearing a hooded sweatshirt, the hood must remain down while in
the building.

Clothing that might reasonably be considered indiscreet, immodest,
or too casual for school will not be permitted.

·A student's
midriff/stomach/cleavage/buttocks must be covered at all times.

·Tops may not be
low cut or revealing; ‘cleavage’ should not be visible.

·Shorts, dresses,
and skirts must reach the top of the student’s kneecap (no holes that reveal
skin above the knee will be permitted).
Pants that must be constantly pulled up, pants that fall down and pants
that show undergarments are not permissible.

·No spaghetti
straps or muscle shirts will be permitted.

·No pajamas will
be permitted.

Clothing that bears reference to drugs, sex, alcohol, gangs, is
intended or interpreted as ‘hate speech’ (advocating violence or
discrimination against any group of individuals) or that has obscene,
suggestive or profane statements or pictures is not permitted.

Sports

All students are encouraged to join sports. The following is a list of all of the sports
available to the student body: Golf, Football, Volleyball, Basketball,
Softball, Baseball, Track, and Cheerleading.
To participate on athletic team you must maintain your academic
eligibility, which means keeping a 2.0 GPA or higher in your academic subjects
and passing 3 of your 4 classes. No
student whose GPA is below 1.66 will be eligible to participate. If your GPA is below a 2.0 but above a 1.66
you may be eligible to participate in extracurricular activities, but if and
only if all work assignments are completed as reviewed on weekly basis.
Additionally, any student with more than 20 demerit points will not be allowed
to participate unless they have an approved behavior contract. For additional
information on athletics, see the handbook you will be given by your coach.

Breakfast (FREE) at FHMS

Breakfast (A good choice!) will still be free and
provided for students to eat each morning.
Students will head to the breakfast line in the morning as they enter
the building, get their breakfast, and then will be given time to eat in the
auditorium before heading to their advisory with their advisor.

School Schedule

7:40 – 7:55 Breakfast in auditorium

7:55 – 8:00 Walk
from auditorium and go to lockers

8:00 – 8:10 Attendance
in advisory

8:10 – 8:15 Pass Time

8:15 – 9:20 Block
1

9:20 – 9:25 Pass time

9:25 – 10:30 Block 2

10:30 – 11:00 Lunch

11:00-11:30 Exploratory

11:30 – 11:35 Pass
Time

11:35 -12:40 Block 3

12:40 – 12:45 Retrieve belongings from lockers

12:45 – 1:20 (Mon/Fri) Homebase

12:45 – 1:25 (Wed) Homebase

12:45 – 1:15 (Tues/Thurs) Homebase

Food Rules for Middle School Students

There are some food rules that apply to all students
at all times, they are as follows:

1.Energy drinks
(i.e. Red Bull, Full Throttle, Amp, Monster, Rock Star and any similar drink)
are not permitted at any time during the school day. Such drinks will be confiscated by the staff
and disposed of. The students and staff
believe these drinks are not healthy and impair the learning processes at the
school.

2.Food, drinks,
and/or gum are not allowed in the library, art room, science lab, and gym.

3.Food, drinks,
and/or gum are allowed in classrooms only with teacher permission. This is totally at the discretion of the
teacher or teaching teams.

4.Students will not
have access to any microwaves or refrigerators during the school day.

Student Property and Responsibility

·If your property
is stolen from the school, the school is not responsible for it, because you
are issued a locker at the beginning of the year and it has a lock on it.

·You are also
advised to use your locker and not share your locker combination with
anyone.

·You may not trade
lockers, share lockers, or use a locker to conceal any regulated or prohibited
item.

·Lockers are
school property and may be opened and searched at any time.

·You are also
responsible for any books, calculators, computers, etc. that you are issued and
will be charged the replacement cost of any items you damage or lose.

·Think twice about
what you bring to school or loan to others.

·Students should
also understand that any item they bring on school property, including
electronic devices, may be searched by school authorities at any time. This is for the safety and security of all
students and staff, and is a clearly established right in civil code, known as
“in loco parentis.”

Electronic Devices

Phones, iPods, mp3 players,
and CD players are not permitted to be used during school hours unless
permitted by a teacher. Any student who
violates rules on electronic devices will have the device confiscated and it
will be held by the administration until the “fine” (see FHMS Behavioral Management
Plan) is paid in full. Due
to state law and test security,if a student is found using their
cell phone during state exams and/or end of course exams, regardless of the
reason, the student’s cell phone will be confiscated for the remainder of the
week or possibly longer.

Bathroom Use

Students should use the bathroom between class
periods. Use of the bathrooms during class
time will require a coupon and teacher permission.

Student
Code of Conduct

Attending
Federal Hocking Middle School should be an educational and enjoyable
experience. We are now young adults who
should know how to act and behave in a manner that is respectful to themselves
and the people around them. Please see
the FHMS Behavior Management Plan that follows the Student Handbook.

There
are specific HIGH LEVEL violations that will be directed immediately to the
administration:

HIGH
LEVEL Violations

·Fighting /
Assault

·Drug /
alcohol use

·Possession of
any regulated item

·Possession of
drugs / firearms

·Harassment/Bullying/Hazing

·Theft

·Damage or
destruction to school property

·Tobacco Use
(including electronic cigarettes)

·Sale of
personal property is prohibited during school hours.

Possible
Consequences:

·Immediate
removal from school

·Expulsion

·Parents meet
with Principal and Superintendent

·Referral to
law enforcement authorities

·After school
detentions

Regulated Items

There are certain things that you cannot have at FHMS. This makes it possible for you to learn in a
hazard-free environment. These include
the following:

Please be aware that the Ohio Revised Code was
changed in regard to procedures regarding tobacco related offenses. Although the Revised Code allows for schools
to have measures in place in addition to those in the code, it will be the practice
at Federal Hocking Middle School to follow the procedures outlined by the
Athens County Prosecutor as follows:

1.On each offense,
a form will be completed by a school official, signed by the offender, and
faxed to the Prosecutor’s office.

2.On the first
offense, a form will be sent home giving the parents and the offender the
option of either attending two Saturday sessions relating to the dangers of
tobacco use at a cost of $25, or, appearing in Juvenile court. If you choose not to appear in court will
result in a $100 fine plus a $75 court cost.

3.After the first
offense, each succeeding offense will result in charges being filed in

Juvenile court and a $100 fine plus $75
in court costs.

Note:
Juvenile court sets and may change the amount of the fines in accordance with
Ohio Law.

Consequence
of tobacco use:

·Upon request,
surrender item immediately

·Confiscation,
impoundment or destruction of item

·Repeated offense
may lead to emergency removal, suspension, or recommendation for expulsion

After School Detention

Detention
will be held on Tuesday and Thursday of each week and will be held from 2:45pm
until the activity bus arrives. Students
are expected to bring work to complete.
Eating and sleeping are prohibited.
Students will have the option of riding the activity bus to one of the
elementary schools or will need to be picked up at the school at 4:45pm.

Suspension

The superintendent or principal may suspend a student
from school no more than ten (10) days.
If there is less than 10 days left of school, the suspension can carry
over to the following school year. The
superintendent or principal must supply a written notice to the student of
reasons for suspension. Also, the
student is provided with the opportunity to appear at an informal hearing with
school officials. When you are suspended
from school, you may not make up work you miss.
Additionally, if you are suspended, expelled, or otherwise removed from
school you may not attend any events at school during any time of the day
without authorization from the building principal.

When you return from any suspension, you must come
with a parent and meet with the school administration for a re-entry
conference. You may not make up any work
you miss while you are suspended or expelled from school.

Expulsion

An
expulsion follows the same guidelines as suspension in addition to the
following information. Only the superintendent can expel a student for up to
180 days on the recommendation of the school administration. If a student has been suspended pending
expulsion, a hearing must take place. If
a student is expelled, his or her guardians must be notified of the
expulsion.

Emergency Removal

If a
student is considered a threat to the school or other students, then an
emergency removal for up to ten school days will come into effect. The student will be removed from school
immediately and only allowed to return after a hearing with the
Superintendent. A written notice must be
given to the student prior to the hearing.

Appeals Process

A student and his/her guardian may appeal an
expulsion or suspension to the board of education or its designee. The student and guardian may be granted a
hearing before the board and if requested by the student, the hearing can be
held publicly. If the board has a
majority vote, the board can change or modify the suspension or expulsion. The decision of the board may also be
appealed under Chapter 250 b. of the Revised Code. There is also a record of all hearings taken
place.

Code of Conduct Effective Times

The Code of Conduct is in effect during all school
hours, whenever you are on any school trip or activity, and any time you are on
school property for any reason.
Additionally, it is also in effect when you are walking to or from a bus
stop or at the bus stop.

DEFINITIONS

Plagiarism: A student shall not pass off ideas or words
from any other source as his/her own.
This includes turning in work that was done by another student, copying
another student’s work, copying items from the internet or other source, or
using anything that is not your own.
Additionally, if you allow another student to use your work you shall be
deemed to have been involved in plagiarism as well.

Profanity: A student shall not use any language, either
written or verbal, which may be considered profane, indecent, obscene, vile, or
abusive. This shall include use of
obscene gestures, pictures, signs or publications.

Forgery: A student shall not, in writing, use the
name of another person, or falsify times, dates, grades, addresses, or other
data on school forms or correspondence directed to or from the school.

Insubordination: Students are expected to
demonstrate a positive attitude in carrying out reasonable rules or directions
given by school personnel. Any student
who fails to comply with the reasonable request of school personnel or
demonstrates a defiant attitude toward staff may be found insubordinate.

Hazing: Any act of coercing another, including the
victim, to submit to any form of initiation into any student organization or
other organization that causes or creates a substantial risk of causing
physical, mental, or emotional harm to any person shall be considered as
hazing. These acts are against the law
and are inconsistent with the educational process and thus are prohibited at
all times.

Harassment: Pressuring, intimidating, frightening, or
embarrassing another by your actions, comments, or gestures. (See nondiscrimination policy at the
beginning of the handbook.)

Bullying:
Repeated incidence of harassment will be considered bullying.

FHMS Student Code of Conduct

I will respect others.

I will respect property.

I will promote a safe environment.

I will be prepared.

I will be responsible.

I will make positive contributions.

LANCER MONEY MANAGEMENT

Each student on the FHMS Team has a
job. That job is to come to school
prepared to participate in the learning process and follow the Code of
Conduct. FHMS students have a unique
opportunity to “earn” special privileges and “pay” for misbehavior as they
participate in a unique personal finance behavior management program.

The purpose of this system is to help
students develop the life skills of personal finance. Students will be learning how to manage
Lancer money in order to take advantage of the privileges offered by FHMS. Each student will receive a checkbook and a
register at the beginning of the year.
Replacing lost checkbooks is time consuming; a checkbook will cost $500
(Lancer dollars) to replace.

PAYDAY:
The pay schedule is based on an average of each student’s three academic
classes. Payroll checks will be
distributed every three weeks. Once
every six weeks, students will receive a bank statement and balance their account.

PAY SCHEDULE:
A = $1000 B = $800 C = $700 D = $400 F
= $300

LIVING EXPENSES: Rent/Parking
(desk and locker) $250
/ 6 weeks

Utilities $50
/ 6 weeks

Total
deducted as $150
each payday

ACCUMULATION OF FINES:
Students will be referred to the office every $250 in fines; they will
receive 5 demerits and afterschool detention(s) as per FHMS Student Handbook.

IMMEDIATE OFFICE
REFERRAL: Some offenses will be handled by the
principal (See FHMS Student Handbook for HIGH LEVEL VIOLATIONS not fined by the
team).

YEAR END TEAM MIDDLE
SCHOOL TRIP: Students who have accumulated 20 demerits
will not be eligible to participate in the year end team trip. NO EXCEPTIONS WILL BE MADE!

NOTE: Demerits
assigned by elective teachers, lunchroom monitors, and the principal, as well
as demerits assigned for each $250 in fines, count toward this total.

CRIME SOLVERS
ANNONYMOUS: $100 - $500 will be paid for information
leading to an “arrest/conviction.” Crime
Solver notices will be posted on the FHMS Information Board and announced in
team meetings.

EARNING EXTRA INCOME: Students have the opportunity to apply for
extra jobs and earn additional money!
Jobs will be listed at the beginning of each six week grading period,
and interested students must submit a job request.

EXTRA INCOME PAY
SCHEDULE (based on
top pay for quality work):

Classroom Assistant

up to $100/pay

Maintenance Person
(watering plants, cleaning, etc…)

up to $100/pay

Deputy Registrar
(sell/record permits and coupons)

up to $100/pay

Clerk of Courts (collects
fines during Homebase)

up to $100/pay

Peer Tutor

up to $100/pay

Community Service

up to $100/event

Study Table (during
homebase Monday - Thursday)

$10 per session

Store Clerk

up to $100/pay

WHAT YOUR MONEY WILL BUY

PRIVILEGES:

Restroom/Drink/
Locker Coupons

Book of 4; one per trip; may leave classroom
only at appropriate times and with teacher permission

$100

Supply Rental
Coupons

Book of 4; student may use these to borrow
or purchase supplies that they need for class

$100

Homework Coupons

Book of 4; may not be valid for particular assignments;
it is the responsibility of the student to ask ahead of time if a coupon may
be used for a particular assignment; a teacher has the right to refuse
coupons for particular assignments; some assignments may cost more than one
coupon

$100

Snacking Permit
Validation

Students will have an opportunity to
purchase a permit on payday; validation lasts three weeks

$200

Hat Permit

Students will have an opportunity to
purchase a permit on payday; validation lasts three weeks

$200

Recreation Coupons

Book of 4; may only be used during afternoon
Homebase; recreational activities may vary due to weather and availability of
the gym and staff

$200

AT-SCHOOL Good
Behavior Activities

$300

AWAY FROM SCHOOL
Good Behavior Activities

$500

Misc. Items from School
Store

Items will vary
(school supplies will be available)

Misc.

NOTE: Passes
and coupons are nontransferable.
Students may not loan them or give them to another student.

FINES:

#1

Parking

Book bags are out of locker during the day
before afternoon Homebase

$25

#2

Curfew

Tardy up to 5 minutes

$25

#3

Failure to display
permit/failure to present coupon when necessary

$25

#4

Unprepared for Class

Does not have materials needed for class

$50

#5

Wasting class time

$50

#6

Failure to comply
with school rules

See FHMS Handbook & Student Code of
Conduct

$50

#7

Littering

Student is also responsible for clean-up

$50

#8

Speeding/Reckless
Operation

Not being courteous; moving recklessly in
hallway

$50

#9

Public Indecency

Violation of school dress code; PDA
(multiple offenses will result in an increased amount of the fine)